Telephone lock



Feb. 28, 19.33; i MlLLER 1,899,445

TELEPHONE LOCK Filed May 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 'Gu filav Mlle)" ATTORNEY G. MILLER TELEPHONE LOCK Feb. 28, 1933.

2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1952 INVENTOR 611,5 601;? Mile? ATTORNEY -authorized person. -i 3 p p bj'ect of this invention-"is to,

PatentedrFeb; 28," 1933; l

GUSTAVEzMILLERiOF;WASHI1\TGTON,{DISTRICT/0F,COLUfiBiKR t; i

TELErHoNn m1; 7 I

Application fired; may 24,

1932'. Serial N 6132426. I

' Gunmanunmimnnmior mncua, 1sss,asmmnm Ann, 30, 928; 370 9.0; 757') V f This: invention relatesto locks or latches for telephoneinstrumentsz and has for an obj ect :to: provide an improved telephone lock which is suitable either for the conventional known: as ahand set-in which the transmit-l ter and-receiver are attached by a suitable handle. .1

' Another object of this invention is to pro- ,-vide a; telephone lock which .may be: made in: several ibrms, each suitable either for the conventional telephone or the handset type; c which will prevent connection ofthetele}.

phone instrument with the line by an un- A; further V provide a telephone lockone form of; which islocked in the upright'or support mounted on;the base. l

-A further object is to provide a telephone lock which will permit thetelephonetozbe used to; receive a call. without the necessity of using 'afkey onthe lock but iwhichcw'ill not permit the telephone to beused to'place a'ca'll except with the use of; a proper keywhich maybe in the possession of an author "ized user. c i

further object ofthisi invention is to provide a telephone lock-which will :bein

combination with a bellringing circuit of the 'instrumentfwhereby the operation of the bell ringing circuit serves to place the'instrur mentin unlocked condition for the purpose ofrrec'eivin-g the call .only butwhich will not place; itin unlocked" condition-for thevpurpose? of placing a call: Stilla fu'rtherobj unlocked by a solenoid or electromagnet which solenoid Will, be in combination with thebell ringing circuit of the instrument no-iditoiunlock the telephone andpermit th callto bereceived."v v

a a An additional, object otthis invention is upright telephone or for the type commonly ect of invention is to provide a telephone lock cwhichi may be to provide a telephonerlock? I unlocked by, the operation of the bellgri-ng I ing circuit and which will automatically B611 lock itselfas soon as the current has ceased v5 cal-1y re-lock the instrument; as soon asljthereceived call iscompleted. c Another object of this invention isto vide a safetycmeans for thelock preventingf;

tamperingtherewith and makingit impOS- f a knocking the instrument against one; side; c In the drawings: c a

fragmentary detail- 0n 'l-ine sible to unlock the telephone by turn-ingot v:

jthe columnof the'baseof ateleph one-instrument partiatli-ij ly sectionjshowing; another :form of" this invention; y i l c .1 755- "Fi'gi 5fis afragmentary elevational view' partiallyin section'iof yyet another form" V wherein an electro-magnet is 'used torel'ease the; lockinglever; J k 5 Fig.1 is; afragmentary elevational View partially in section of yet; another formrin cu-it through the lockingz electrmmagnet or a noids showing the samein seri'es;

Fig-.-"8- is a view similar to Fig. the CirCuitsinpaiaIleI 7 1 f I Figsul, 2' and 3- show one formof' .this'ins"v vention wherein ,10indicates the cylindrical "which thesolenoid ,isfmade-part-ofthellock: c p'erse;- j I a Fig. :7cis adiag'rammatic viewofthegift 85 'solen'oidzand throughjthe bella'riaigi ng sole-f l column or support iforming pa rt of'the con ventional telephone instrument, or-formingthe support between the base and the recep'7=- tacle for the transmitter and receiverof th hand set, Thewiresleading to thetra-ns mits,

ter and receiver are shown: at 11,-whil6gbhe.

plunger between the receiver support: and the v switch is shown at 12., incomplete ring;

13; having. its ends at 14 and 15,.is provided- V 16 may be then covered, as with solder, and

the covering may bethen painted so as to be inconspicuous in the side of column 10. Pro ]ect1ng from one s1de of the ring 13 isa sole noid shell 18 having a solenoid 19 thereabout operated by the conductors 20. A spring 21 p aced within the shell 18 and pressing against the ring 13 as a base serves to normally hold a plunger22-at the limit of its movement in the shell 18. The plunger 22 has a soft iron armature or core 23 therein which willserve, when a current is conducted by the wires 20 through the solenoid 19, to pull the plunger 22 within theshell 18. V V

The plunger 22 will be made of brass, aluminum or other non-magnetic material except for the core 23. Theplunger 22 is shaped generally as shown and has a locking arm 24which is adapted to be received within a recess 25 in the switch plunger 12 so that when the spring 21'is expanded to its-limit,

the locking arm 24 is received within the recess 25. Recess .25 is-of such a size that it will just easily admit the locking arm 24 and when the locking arm is in place in the recess 25, the switch plunger 12 cannot beraised sufficiently tooperate the telephone switch,

thus preventing the instrument from being used. When the spring '21 has been compressed by the solenoid 19 drawing the armature 23 therein, the locking arm 24 is withdrawn beyond the edge of the recess 25, thenpermitting the plunger switch 12 to be raised in the conventional manner and complete the telephone circuit. V

Projecting from one side of the plunger *22 is a bell crang 26 having an arm 27 receivablewithin' the end of a lock cylinder shell' 28, the lock cylinder shell 28 being mounted on ring 13. The end of the bell crank arm 27 is camshaped as shown at 29 and cooperates with a complementary cam 30- on the endof a cylinderlock 31. The cylinderlock 31 is supported in shell 28 and a key may be insertedin the end thereof through the opening 32 formed in the side of the column 10 so that when the key is operated,- thelock 31 is rotated causing the cam 30'to press the arm 27 away from it, pressing plunger 22against spring- 21 withdrawing the locking plunger 24 from recess 25, thus unlocking the switch plunger 12. r I o In operation, the cylinder lock 31 may be of any conventional type, either of the form that permits its keytobe withdrawn only when in locked position, or of the form that permits its key to be withdrawn in. either locked position, it is very undesirable that it be necessary to first secure an operators key to be able to receive a message when the telephone is rung from the central station, and this invention eliminates the necessity of using a key when the telephone is rung. When the telephone is rung from the central station, the bell ringing circuit passes through the electrical conductor 20 having a switch 33 which is operated by a bolt 34 secured to the body of the switch plunger 12.

When the receiver is picked up, the plunger 12 is raised by an appropriate spring, not shown, in the conventional manner, raising the bolt 34 and the switch operating finger 35 permitting the switch 33 to break the circuit to the conductor 20 and closing the circuit through the switch 36 tolthe talking circuit37. The conductor 20 leads to the bell ringin solenoids 81 and tothe lock operatingsol enoid 19 either in series as shown inr F 7, or in parallel as shown in Fig. 8. While the current is passing through the conductors 20, as will be indicated by the ringingof'the telephone bell, the solenoid 19 will hold the locking plunger 24 in unlocked position thus permitting the switch plunger 12 to be raised to operate the switch 36 through the locking circuit 37 to wires 11 and permitting the telephone to be used to receive a call. When the call is completed, it is customary to, replace the receiver on its movable support pressing the plunger 12 down andallowin g the spring 21 to place the locking plunger 24 in locked position. It is then-impossible to use the instrument to place a call except by unlocking the same with'the use of the key in the lock 31. As is well known, it is necessary to move the switch plunger 12 up and down to recall the operator at the central station after a call is completed, thus serving to insure that the telephone instrument will be locked when a call is completed.

1T0 prevent the possibility of an unauthorized person attempting to make use of the telephone to place a call without the use of the key, a lock guard shown generally at 38 guard 38 includes a support 39 projecting from the bell crank 26 and having a pin 40 projecting therethrough. Pivotally sup ported on the pin 40 is a depending swinging lever'41, either the support 39 or lever pending on th'epin40, but the bottom of the ening-42 is somewhatirag ged,' as shown,v sov t at whenthe pressure of thexpin41 isf ex erted against the pin in opposite direce tion," it tends to cause the swinging lever 41 toswing further from the position shown in i Fig. 2 and to lock against returning thereto.

Cooperating withthe' curved end 43' of .the lever 41 is a stop 44 ln'iving'its' end curved eccentrically to the pink40 as at and'lead ing to: a stop finger 46. Proj ectingvifromi the bell: crank 26 directly below the support 39 is a bifurcated boss 47"having a pin support 48 throu'gh; a side guard 49 which is curved v as at allowing the swinging lever 41 to be receivedwithin'thecurve- 50.

i In operation, the lever 41 -w1ll remain in upright position so long asthe telephoneis Q53 in'similar uprightposition and not disturbed.

If" an' attempt isQmade to cause the lock longer 24 to be forced out of the recess'25',l. hy either hitting the telephone instrument violently against 'theysidelor by tiltingit 36? over, the swinging lever 41 will turn about; its pin 40 causing its curved end 43- to follow th'e curvature 45 to the stop finger 46- 7 As will be observed, the curves 45 and 43 are such that any contact between the end43 and.

curve 45: tends to cause the curved end '43 totravelfiurther alongthe=curv e '45 to the;

stopifinger 46, the curve'45 near .ist'op; finger If; thetelephone instrument is placed on its. side'in an attempt, to oausethe 'welght of the bell prank 26 to withdraw the plunger 24,

46 being further"fromthepin 40 than is the curve 45 near its other end. If. desired,

graphite or similiar lubrication may be.

placed on the curve 45 to.eliminate'friction.

the spring'21" will tend to slow up" or-hold' the movement of the bell cranki 26,3 while the lever 41 will swingyabout' its pivot 4Qj and; lock against" the "stop finger. 46,- the irregular shape of'the aperture42.cooperating-i'withr 'anatteinpt tojcause the toe 58 to be displaced from the lever 55, the weight .66 will pivot the pin 40 to assist in; holding the pin -'41 against the stop finger 46 50; long "as the weight 'ofthe bell crank j26is exerted there- 1 In casethe instrumentistilted difllerent. direction the side gnard49 willflbe moved about. its pivot 48 and ,the curve 50 thereon will steer the lever 41 in the direction ofthe 43 and curve-45l Q-Thus,l"no,matter which direction l the, telephone. instrument is tilted or,

struck; the swinging lever 41\will ;l ock against the stop finger 46 before the plunger 24. can

holding the same locked against such tamperv In/Fig. 4, thesame invention has 'been1ap. plied .inTa different form-.1 Inthis formthe 7 locking mean'sis shownin the baseofthetele phone instrument and is suitable either for.

the conventional type of instrumentorfor the handset or French type of telephonein- I strun ent. In'this form, alock 5I"accessible through-an opening 52 in thebotto'nr53 ofwthe 5 telephone instrument for operation by a key 54has alock bolt54 cooperatingwith'one;

end of a pivoted lever 55.. The lever 55is I pivoted on'an extension 56:0f the bolt 34 see I cured to'the bottom ofswitch plunger 12 and is guided between bifurcated guide 57 only 1 one bifurcation being shown for convenience. The otherend'of lever 55 is received under the toe 58-of a dependinglever of illustration.

59 ipivotally supportedat 60, a spring 6l'ser'v ing toholdthe lever-59 and its toe 58; in posi-:- tionv onzthe lever 55." A stop 55? limits the. free inoveinentof lever 55, causingit to enter under the toeof lock bolt 54. 1 As will'be 0b-' vious as long. as lever .55 is held between the lock bolt 54'. and the toe 58,.the bolt 34 on the switch plunger is held down preventingjthe switch 360i talking circuit 37 from being operated. If either end of the lever 55is released, the talking switch 36 may then be opconventionalxlnanner. The lever 59111215 be withdrawn bymeans of a link'62 connected to. an armature68 inthe solenoid shell. 64- of. the solenoid l9 operated bythe bell" ringing current through the conductors 20 and switch To prevent unauthorized use of thetele- 1 phone lILtlllSfOlHl, a lock guard shownat 65 may bel used. In thisfor'm; a weight 66 piv from its guide 71" formed inthe side 72 0f thetelephone instrument base.

If the telephone be tilted in any direction or struck in aboutaits pivot 67 and raise the stop plunger 69 inthe path ofthe, core 68, holding'it against release movement, i

In the form shown in Fig.5, the link 62"is .diispensed'with and an .electro-magnet 73 operated in similar manner by the conductorQO th 't f I Stop ng 9 hl h motlon W 1 be com; I or e bell circui serves to pivot the lever 59 pletediby the cooperation of the-curved end.

'In the form shown inFig.,6, a leg;74is sei cured to thebolt 34 and has/a toe 75 lvvhich is receivable beneath theilocking plunger 27 60f f 7 p thef lock 77 operable by theikey 78. ir A sole-- movesuflicientlyto lea've 1 the messes; thus noidgshell i 9 is formedxabout the lockings.

erated." ,When'the key 54 is operated, the lock bolt 54" will be withdrawn, releasing the lever 55:.for operation of the telephone in the plunger 76, the plunger 76 being of nonmagnetic material except for the core 80, the

solenoid 19 about the solenoid 7 9 being connected to the bell ringing conductors 20. this form, the lock guard may be omitted its place being taken by providing a sufliciently' strong spring in the lock 77 preventing the retraction of the lock plunger 7 6 except by the operation of the key 78 orthe solenoid 19 on solenoid shell 79. l a

It will be understood thatthe term solenoid as used in the appended'claims, also inchides an electro-magnet, and further, that a combination operated lock is the equivalent of, and may be substituted for, the key operated lock.

It will also be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention, and that various changes in construction, proportion and ar and means for withdrawing said locking member from cooperative position, said means including a solenoid in circuit with the telephone instrument bell circuit.

2. In combination with a telephone instrument having a bell circuit and, a, switch plunger operated by a receiver, a locking member adapted to cooperate with said switch plunger to prevent operation of said switch plunger, means for withdrawing said locking member from cooperative position, saidmeans including a solenoid 111 circuit with the telephone instrument bell circuit and a key operable lock.

3'. In combination with a telephone instrument having a bell circuit and a switch plunger operated by a receiver, a locking member adapted to cooperate with said switch plunger to prevent operation of said switch plunger, means for withdrawing said locking member from cooperative position, said means including a solenoid in circuit with the telephone instrument bell circuit and a key operable lock, and lock guard means preventing ab-. normal operation of said locking member.

4. In a telephone. instrument in combination with a bell circuit and an attached transmitter and receiver, a mounting therefor hav ing a switch by which telephonic connection may be had to a telephone line, an enlarged base portion in the mounting, a lock contained, within the enlarged base portion by which the switch may be locked against operation, a solenoid operated by the bell, circuit to unlockthe' switch while the bell circuit is in operationand means for locking said switch responsive to the cessation of ringing current. 5. In atelephone instrument in combination with a bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver, a supporting member therefor containing a switch operating member by which telephonic connection may be had with the telephone line, a lock contained within the supporting'member, an extension from the lock to engage the switch operating member, a bell circuit operated solenoid adapted to withdraw said lock extension from engagement with said switch operating member and means for replacing said lock extension in looking position responsive to the deenergization of said solenoid. a l 1 6. In a telephoneinstrument in combination with a bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver, a supporting member therefor containing a switch operating member by which telephonic connection may be had with the telephone line, a lock contained within the supporting member, an extension from the lock to engage the switch operating member, and means comprising an inertia member for preventing disengagement of the lock extension and the switch operating member when the telephone instrument is in abnormal position. V

'7. In a telephone instrument in combination with a-bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver, a supporting member therefor containing a switch operating member by which telephonic connection may be had with the telephone line, a lock contained within the supporting member, an extension from the lock to engage the. switch operating member, a bell circuit operated solenoid adapted to withdraw said lock extension-from engagement with said switch operating member, and means comprising an inertia member for preventing disengagement of the lock extension and the switch operating member when the telephone instrument is in abnormal position.

8. In a telephone instrument in combination with a bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver, a supporting member therefor, a base plate in the supporting member, a switch in the supporting member by which telephonic connection may be had to a telephone line, a lock attached to the base plate of the supporting member, a locking plunger extending from said lock for locking the switch 7 against operation, and asolenoid about said locking plunger, said solenoid being operable by said bell circuit to withdraw the locking plunger fromthe switch when the bell circuit is in operation.

switch operatin ,memberat the supporting member by whic 1 telephonic connectionmay 5 be had to a telephone line, a look within the supporting member, an extensionfrom said lock, yieldable means holding saidlock ex-L tension in engagementwith said switch operatmg member, and a solenoid; about said 1 look extension for withdrawing saidlock extension from operative"engagement.

10. Ina telephone instrument in combination with a bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver, a supporting'jmembertherefor, a. switch operatingmember at the supporting. member by whichtelephonic connection may.

be had to a telephone line, a lock within the supporting member, an extension from v said lock, yieldable' means "holding said lock ex .0 tension in engagement with said switch operating member, andasolenoid aboutsaid lock extension for withdrawing said lock extension from operative engagement, said solenoid being operable by saidbell circuit.

11. In a telephone instrumentiin combination with a bell circuit and atransmitter and" receiver, a supporting member therefor, a

switch operating member at, the supporting member by which telephonic connection may be had to a.telephone line,a look within the supporting member, an extension from said" lock, yleldable means holding ,said lock'extension in engagement withfsaid switch op-' erating member, and a solen'oid ab'out said lock extens1on for w thdrawing said lock .extension from operative engagement, and

means holding said lock extension in operative engagement with the switchoperating member when the telephone instrumentis out of normal operating position. I

12. In a'telephone instrument in combination with a bell circuit and atransmitter and receiver, a supportmg member therefor, a. switch operating member at the. supporting be had to a telephone line, a lock-withinthe supportmg member,an extension from said lock, yieldable means holding said, lockextension 1n engagement with said switchop- I I tion'with a bell circuit and a transmitter and" erating member, a solenoid about said lock extension for withdrawing said lock exten-' sion from operative engagement,said .sole noid being operable said bell circuit, and means holding said lock extension in opera- 5 tive engagement with the switchoperating member when the telephone instrument is out of normal operating position.

13. In a telephone instrument inicombina tion with a bell circuit and an attached trans! mitterand receiver, a supporting member therefor, a switch within the supporting member, a base plate attachedto the supportj ing member, a lock attached to thebase plate and engaging the switch toprevent operation of the switch, andabell circuit operated soleoperation of thebell circuiti.

member by which'jtelephonio connection may noid'on said lock 1unlockingthe same' du'ring I 14:. In a telephone instrument in combina- .;tion w itha bell circuit and a;transmitter'and receiver, a supporting (member therefor, .a ,SWVItClI operating member witlnnthesupport 'ing memb er, a lock within thexsupporting member engaging the switclioperating. mem-, Y her ,to prevent movement thereof whenthe' receiver is removed fromthesupportingmem her; and'means comprising an inertia mem-v beriforupreventing disengagementofr'the lock' "and; switch operating member: when'atheftele- 'phonei instrumentis out of normal position;

1 15; In a telephone instrument,in 'conibinae tion with a bell-circuit and a transm'itter and "receiver, a fcolumnar" supporting member therefor, a switch operating member extend ing throughsaid columnar supporting member, means for locking said switch. operating 1 member against operatioman-d means for supporting said locking means in said col-R umnar supporting member.

16. In a telephone instrument, in combination with a bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver, a columnar supporting member ing through said columnar supporting memtherefor, a switch operating member extendber,means forlocking saidswitch operating member against operation, and means opfor releasing said locking means.

195 erated bysaid bellcircuit while in operation I 17." In a telephone instrument, in combi I nation with a bell circuit and a transmitter and receiver,-a columnar supporting member therefor, a switch operating member extendingthroughs'aid columnar supporting'mem- 7 her, means forlocking said switch operating,

member against opera-tion, means operated by saidibell circuit while in operation'for resupportin means. 18. In a telephone instrument, in combinareceiver, a columnar supporting member therefor, a switch operating member extend-.l ing throughsaid' columnar supporting'member, means for" locking said switch operating member against operation, means operated by said bell circuit while in operation for releasi ing said locking means, means for sup-porting said locking and releasing means insaid columnar supporting member, said supporting :means comprising an incomplete ring member,z

a sleeve ext-ending inwardly housingsaid look ing ,means and a sleeve extending nwardly including said relea'sing'means, a lock guard," and a lock guard support extending inwardly opposite ,s'aid'locking means. preventingj ,locln'ng of. said locking means except when the, telephone instrument is in normal position.

7 p 19. In a telephone instrument, means for 7 locking said instrument against unauthorized 7 use, and means comprlslng an inertia member for preventing the release of said locking means when said telephoneis in abnormal position.

20. In a telephone instrument,'means for locking saidinstrument again unauthorized use, and means for preventing the release of r said locking means when said telephone is in r abnormal position, said preventing means in cluding a pendulum adapted to block the locking means except when in normal position.

' GUSTAVE MILLER. 

